“Wisdom is the principal thing a person must venture to get. Once obtained, it will brighten his face and forever change the course of his destiny”

Tag: prayer of grace

A person who claims to love God must express it by loving his Son Jesus Christ. The person must also love his or her neighbors. Here are God’s words,

“‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind’; and, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself’”(Luke 10:27 NIV).

“Whoever believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God, and everyone who loves Him who begot also loves him who is begotten of Him. By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and keep His commandments” (1 John 5:1-2 NKJV).

The task to love God and our fellow human beings may sound easy but it can be sometimes intensive. It can be tough to truly love the hostile people. Also, it can be challenging to love God wholeheartedly during a difficult situation. However, despite the challenges, believers still have the privilege of depending on empowerment of the Holy Spirit to fully meet the standard of God – “Love God and love your neighbors.”

To overcome the challenge of struggling to fully love God and truly love our neighbors, we must rely on the power of the Holy Spirit.

Christian: Have Confidence In Holy Spirit!

Holy Spirit can help us overcome our limitations and adequately meet the standard of God. To achieve this, we must express our dependence on God. That is, we must pray and express our frustrations and fears to God. We must tell him how we feel, and how powerless we are in a situation. More importantly, we must ask God to send his Holy Spirit to possess us, empower us, and guide us to behave appropriately according to his commandments.

A believer who operates in the realm of the Holy Spirit through prayers and Bible study will receive God’s empowerment to prosper. The person will regain the strength to behave in a manner that glorifies God.

No doubt that Satan will tempt a Christian to act in the flesh and be less loving in a hostile environment, but the fellow can depend on the power of the Holy Spirit to adequately meet the standard of God.

Holy Spirit gives us the power to fully love God and our neighbors. The Bible states, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible” (Matthew 19:26).

Every Christian needs the supernatural power of God (Holy Spirit) to overcome his or her limitations. The divine Spirit of God will energize us to live above sin if we can allow him to lead us! He (Holy Spirit) will empower us to love God as well as loving our fellow human beings – Even under a poisoned atmosphere! The more we rely on the empowerment of the Holy Spirit, the more our strength will increase to fully conform to the standard of God.

Submit yourself to God. Read his word (The Bible); pray, and rely on the power of the Holy Spirit to fully conform to his standard.

Please Pray for Strength to Love God and Faithfully Serve Him!

Dear God, please baptize me with the Holy Spirit to exercise genuine love for you and other people. Empower me to live an acceptable life before you so that I can qualify for your benefits on earth and in heaven. For in the name of Jesus Christ I make my requests. Amen! Click here to subscribe and read the new post from the author.

You are Destined to Succeed

Every child of God must take a stand to enjoy the rightful position that God has destined for his or her life. God has the power to restore losses and make all things become beautiful. In fact, the Bible attested that there is hope for a tree that is cut down, it will sprout at the scent of water. Listen to the full sermon by Dr. James Taiwo.

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Crucify him; crucify him, shouted the Pharisees who wanted Jesus dead by all means. The enemies got their wish, but it became my blessing!

Jesus Christ shed his blood on the Cross of Calvary for humanity. He suffered and languished in pain from his persecutors who beat him mercilessly and squeezed the crown of thorns on his head. An already weaken Son of God was forced to carry his own cross as mob chanted “crucify him” to Roman soldiers.

“Crucify him, crucify him” the mob were shouting. They wanted Jesus dead by all means. The authority (in collaboration with the Pharisees) dragged Jesus to Golgotha where they nailed his arms and feet on the cross. Hammers pounded the nails as they were driven into his arms and feet; he cried in pain but no one was ready to help. The enemies laughed and mocked him as he groaned in pain!

Jesus’ enemies were having a field day as they hung the body of Jesus on the cross and hammered the crown of thorns to his head. They even took their time to post on Jesus’ cross to showcase the allegation they brought against him. The signage was “Hinri” meaning The self-proclaimed “King of Jews.”

Blood run all over Jesus’ body as he was groaning in excruciating pain.

Not just the enemies mocked Jesus Christ, the onlookers and passersby did the same. Even one of the two thieves nailed to the cross took a cheap shot at Jesus stating, “If you are the Son of God, save yourself, and save us also.” (Luke 23:37).

No one sympathized with Jesus Christ, except a few mothers and some men of integrity. Perhaps those few ones murmured, “This is an act of injustice; this man doesn’t deserve this kind of treatment!” However, what influence have the sympathizers gotten? They were powerless by all standards!

Jesus Shed His Blood to Save Mankind!

Jesus Christ languished in excruciating pain on the cross. Blood flowed from wounds sustained from beatings and crown of thorns hammered to his head. Meanwhile a soldier doubled his punishment as he gave him vinegar to drink when he lamented for water. Perhaps the same soldier tossed spear into his side as water and blood gushed out from his side!

However, the experience of Christ from his enemies is a prophecy in fulfillment. Long before he was born, Isaiah had prophesied about him,

“Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed” (Isaiah 53:4-5 KJV).

O that the blood of Jesus Christ may never be in vain over my life!

The Importance of The Blood of Jesus Christ

The blood washes sins away! He cleanses people’s lives from their past mistakes and make them fit for God’s kingdom. Believers receive God’s forgiveness via the blood of Jesus Christ! That is, someone who confesses his sins and prays in the name of Jesus will receive God’s forgiveness.

The blood of Jesus Christ heal all kinds of diseases and sickness. The power of God transpires from the blood of Jesus Christ to perform miracles in the lives of people who believe! That is, anyone who anchors his faith in the resurrection power of Jesus Christ and also trust in his blood will experience God’s supernatural power of healing and deliverance.

The blood of Jesus Christ gives Christians upper hands over the power of darkness! Since no activity of men could prevent Jesus Christ from resurrection, whoever anchors his faith in the same Jesus will have similar experience. No power of man or of Satan will be able to prevail over him!

The Resurrection Power of Jesus and Its Benefits…Christians have been redeemed by the blood of Jesus Christ to live above Satan’s trials and temptations. Also, no persecution of the enemy can prevail over us since the power consist in Jesus’ resurrection has earn us upper arms…

King Rehoboam succeeded his father Solomon as a king of Israel, but he quickly followed wrong counsels and lost credibility with his citizens.

Therefore, he lost more than 70% of his kingdom to someone who had no royal blood.

The scripture reported,

“…And Jeroboam and all Israel came and spoke to Rehoboam, saying, ‘Your father made our yoke heavy; now therefore, lighten the burdensome service of your father and his heavy yoke which he put on us, and we will serve you.’” (2 Chronicles 10:3-4). “So Jeroboam and all the people came to Rehoboam on the third day, as the king had directed, saying, ‘Come back to me the third day.’

Then the king answered them roughly. King Rehoboam rejected the advice of the elders, and he spoke to them according to the advice of the young men, saying, ‘My father made your yoke heavy, but I will add to it; my father chastised you with whips, but I will chastise you with scourges!’”(12-14).

“Now when all Israel saw that the king did not listen to them, the people answered the king, saying: ‘What share have we in David? We have no inheritance in the son of Jesse. Every man to your tents, O Israel! Now see to your own house, O David!’ So all Israel departed to their tents” (2 Chronicles 10:16)

Lesson on Association

Wrong association corrupts good people; children of God must avoid relationship that may affect their standing with God.

Ungodly people may care less about meeting God’s expectations; they may also care less about any eternal consequence that is attached with a sinful act.

Ungodly people may pursue human feelings and selfish desires. Meanwhile, we (God’s children) are obligated to put God first in whatever we do.

God asked Israelites (his people) to repent from their sins to qualify for his blessings.

God emphasized that holiness is important to him, and it will automatically attract his blessing.

(People who repent from their sins and serve God in holiness will enjoy his benefits).

God said,

“Wash yourselves, make yourselves clean; Put away the evil of your doings from before my eyes. Cease to do evil, Learn to do good; Seek justice, Rebuke the oppressor; Defend the fatherless, Plead for the widow. “Come now, and let us reason together,” Says the Lord, “Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall be as wool. If you are willing and obedient, you shall eat the good of the land; But if you refuse and rebel, you shall be devoured by the sword”; for the mouth of the Lord has spoken” (Isaiah 1:16-20).

Important Lesson on Repentance of Sin

Repentance matters to God. It opens door of opportunity for Christians to get blessed.

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Gospel minsters are God’s servants, and they hold special place in his mind, and everyone ought to consider them special also.

Paul explained the necessity of honoring and catering for the needs of God’s servants and said,

“Don’t you know that those who serve in the temple get their food from the temple, and that those who serve at the altar share in what is offered on the altar? In the same way, the Lord has commanded that those who preach the gospel should receive their living from the gospel” (1 Corinthians 9:13-14 NIV).

Lesson on Care for the Anointed – Servant of God

They also seek God’s face to properly feed us with the word of God – which is the bread of life.

God’s servants represent God, and we should respect them.

The rule of thumb indicates that whatever honor we give God’s servant is what we technically give to God himself!

Therefore, we believers should utilize every opportunity that we have to minister into the lives of spiritual leaders that we have in our radar.

Remember the main subject:

Every servant of God deserves special honor since he (or she) holds a special place in God’s mind; also, since he may be going out of his ways to represent God and create positive impact in the lives of others.

Prayer of Grace to Honor God’s Ambassadors – Servants of God

Dear God, I understand that gospel ministers are your ambassadors on earth; therefore, give me grace to honor them. Empower me to do whatever thing I have in capacity to minister to their needs, and let me be a source of courage to their families.

I also pray that you give all your servants peace and joy so that they can continue to do your good works for humanity, and for your kingdom.

Again, please give me strength to honor every servant of God I have around me!

“If you really fulfill the royal law according to the Scripture, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself,” you do well; but if you show partiality, you commit sin, and are convicted by the law as transgressors” (James 2:8-9).

A Child of God to Avoid Segregation

A person who gives preferential treatment is an unjust person, and he would suffer consequences of his action from God if he (or she) does not repent.

God’s children must love all people and treat them equally – Without partiality.

No Christian is allowed to favor the rich at the expense of the poor. Also, a follower of Jesus Christ must not respect influential people and look down on common people.

No iota of partiality is with God! He sends rain in its season to benefit all people. God waters the whole earth to bring out its produce for everyone’s consumption.

In addition, believers must learn from Jesus Christ who demonstrated unbiased love to people of his time (while on earth).

He walked around the town doing good to all people without an element of partiality. Jesus even went out of his way to care for people that were rejected by the society. The Son of God fed poor people and gave hope to the hopeless!

Any Christian who violates the rule of openness and unbiased love will suffer consequences of his action – irrespective of his religious title and/or affiliation.

Every believer must have the mind of Jesus Christ. We must serve God with humility and truly represent Christ. Our openness and sincere interaction will preach better sermons than our speeches.

Children of God ought to pray for God’s grace to practice true love that glorifies Christ.

Believers from all walks of life should read their Bible and practice the teachings of Jesus Christ to the letter!

Our faithful services to Jesus Christ will motivate other people to come closer and receive his salvation. Also, our faithful services will result to our blessings!

Paul encouraged Corinthian Christians to maintain purity, and abstain from activities that can trap them into sexual immorality.

The apostle also encouraged people who are ripe for marriage to do so, in order to avoid sexual sins.

Any adult who chooses to remain single must maintain body purity and abstain from sexuality.

Paul admonished,

“I suppose therefore that this is good because of the present distress—that it is good for a man to remain as he is: Are you bound to a wife? Do not seek to be loosed. Are you loosed from a wife? Do not seek a wife. But even if you do marry, you have not sinned; and if a virgin marries, she has not sinned….” (1 Corinthians 7:26-28).

Lesson on Purity

Humans are comprised of spirit, soul, and body – which are necessary for normal functioning.

All three elements, except human soul will transition after death. Human body is corruptible and will decay after death.

(Christians who are alive during rapture would see their body transformed).

The spirit that keeps a person alive will also return to God after death.

However, human soul will survive natural death to face God’s judgment at the end.

The second coming of Jesus Christ is also known as Rapture, and it is not a question of “what if,” but a question of “when it will happen.”

The rapture of saints is imminent.

It will surely occur as the scripture foretold.

“Brothers and sisters, we do not want you to be uninformed about those who sleep in death, so that you do not grieve like the rest of mankind, who have no hope.

For we believe that Jesus died and rose again, and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him. According to the Lord’s word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep.

For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air.

And so we will be with the Lord forever. Therefore encourage one another with these words” (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18).

Jesus Christ asked his disciples to diligently tarry for his second coming and said,

“Blessed are those servants whom the master, when he comes, will find watching. Assuredly, I say to you that he will gird himself and have them sit down to eat, and will come and serve them. And if he should come in the second watch, or come in the third watch, and find them also, blessed are those servants.

But know this, that if the master of the house had known what hour the thief would come, he would have watched and not allowed his house to be broken into.

Therefore you also be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect” (Luke 12:37-40).

Deeper Focus

What Qualifies A Person For Rapture?

Rapture is imminent.

Christ will soon come, and his coming may be sooner than later. People who considered themselves as followers of Jesus Christ – that is, Christians should remain steadfast in their commitments to their Lord because their basis of faith will be evaluated before they can be qualified.

Christians who are courageous to steadfastly serve Christ and wait for the Messiah’s second coming will be ultimately rewarded.

Christ – the Savior – will use the standard of the bible to either accept or reject anyone from his Father’s kingdom.

His main qualifying criteria is a person’s choice of deity.

That is, Jesus will only transport people who have confessed their faith in him to heaven.

Those people who have personally identified themselves with him as their personal Lord and Savior will qualify. As the scripture stated,

“If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.

For it is by believing in your heart that you are made right with God, and it is by confessing with your mouth that you are saved” (Romans 10:9-10 NLT).

Not just a confession of faith that saves a person, but the lifestyle that he or she has lived on earth that will determine if he/she will qualify for heaven or not.

Believers who have confessed Jesus Christ as Lord and remain consistent in their faith by keeping his testimony will be regarded as “Just” and be counted worthy to inherit the kingdom of God.

It is stated,

“I declare to you, brothers and sisters, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable. Listen, I tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed— in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed.

For the perishable must clothe itself with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality. When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come true: “Death has been swallowed up in victory” (1 Corinthians 15:50-54 NIV)

If Rapture Is Real, Then What Stake Does It Offer Christians?

The reward of Christian faithfulness is far reaching.

Christ will rapture his saints and call them home from the trouble and trauma of the world.

The Savior will wipe off tears of affliction and persecution from the faces of his saints.

He will also award them his gift of imperishable eternal crown of glory.

Perhaps the best of all gifts the saints will receive in heaven is the of gift of eternal life of peace (tranquility).

Believers will be permanently stationed with God in heaven to rejoice in his loving arms. Sin and pain won’t be mentioned in heaven.

Sickness will be found wanting there also!

All that saints of God will enjoy in heaven is everlasting life of perfect peace and joy.

Not much of some anticipated benefits that should excite anyone about qualifying for rapture, but the actual tasks that are required.

Christians are saved by grace, but they must be fully committed and be serious with their faith and practices to qualify for God’s well advertised kingdom.

To actually qualify for God’s kingdom, believers must daily make conscious efforts to serve God with faithfulness.

A Christian who has backslided from faith can be restored by God. This lesson can be illustrated with God’s behavior to the people of Judah (in the bible). People of Judah were God’s children, but they sold themselves to sinful lifestyle. They became corrupted to the extent that God turned his back against them.

However, despite the sinful behavior of people of Judah, God promised to restore them into his true love. The Creator would buy them back from their sinful entrapment.

Jehovah promised to redeem his outcast children and restore them to have mutual relationship with him to enjoy his benefits. God would favor his children as promised,

“I will strengthen the house of Judah, and I will save the house of Joseph. I will bring them back, because I have mercy on them. They shall be as though I had not cast them aside; for I am the Lord their God, And I will hear them” (Zechariah 10:6 NKJV).

Hope of Restoration for A Backslider

Every Christian is a child of God. Jehovah will redeem, restore, and forgive any of his children that have fallen from faith. That is, he will forgive and restore any Christian who has backslided.

God is loving and forgiving, and he will forgive our sins and bless us if we can turn to him. The ever gracious Lord will show us his loving-kindness and redeem our lands. He will also wipe off our painful memory and replace it with senses of calmness, peace, and joy.

However despite God’s enduring love and mercy, he still warned people not to take him for granted. He expects no one to live in a sin and hope for mercy at the same time. Every sinner must repent from his/her sins and turn to God to receive his mercy and forgiveness.

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Consequences Remain For Unrepentant Sinners

Jehovah will punish an unrepentant sinner to the pit of hell fire! Therefore, it is important that everyone repent from his/her sins to appease God and obtain his mercy. We must have a genuine relationship with God to receive his abundant benefits.

God expects honest repentance from us all. The Creator will be proud to endow us with his goodness if we can walk uprightly before him.

Choose to honor God with dignity and serve him well so that you can prosper everyday of your life!

Dear God please teach me how to serve you with honesty. Empower me to yield my complete life to you so that I can prosper. Let me be in your good book to receive your abundant benefits. Also, let your Holy Spirit empower me to faithfully serve you so that I can qualify for your eternal kingdom. Please bless me today, bless me tomorrow, and bless me everyday of my life! For in the name of Jesus Christ I make my requests. Amen.

“For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature: And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another;

men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompense of their error which was meet.

And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient” (Romans 1:26-28 KJV).

In addition, immoral activities such as fornication and adultery compromise God’s standard of holiness, and Christian must not engage in them.

Understand Christianity in a Simple Language

A Christian must not entertain whatever practices contradict bible standard.

Ungodly practices are sinful and punishable by God.

Believers must reject any practice that God has rejected!

Holiness has no substitute with God

Prayer for God’s Grace to Walk in Dignity of Scripture

O dear God please give me grace to walk in dignity before you always.

Enhance me with an ability to resist temptations of sin.

Give me steadfast heart to be firm and live a Christian-principled lifestyle.

Please help and guide me with your Holy Spirit to accurately walk before you throughout the days of my life, so that I can qualify for your eternal kingdom.